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Reference.org
Forward observers in the U.S. military
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<p>Forward observers in the U.S. military are <a href="/facts/Artillery_observer/K3EkPLL8">artillery observers</a> who carry the <a href="/facts/Military_Occupational_Specialty/tKKIhYMm">Military Occupational Specialty</a> designator of <i>13F</i> in the <a href="/facts/United_States_Army/WACWBEK9">United States Army</a> and <i>0861</i> in the <a href="/facts/United_States_Marine_Corps/J8JDlJG2">United States Marine Corps</a>. They are officially called "joint fire support specialists" in the U.S. Army and "fire support marines" in the U.S. Marine Corps. They are colloquially known as "FiSTers", regardless of whether they are members of a FiST (fire support team). A battalion fire support officer (FSO) is the officer in charge of a battalion fire support element. </p>